We would really like some stadium accessories this Christmas.

Please consider how much this would really mean for the City of Ballarat, while you are stuffing the final toys into your Central Highlands-bound sleigh.

Our new stands at Eureka Stadium are shaping up gradually, like something from one of those meccano sets you occasionally still hand out.

Pretty soon we will roofing stretch along both sides of what was the traditional goal ends.

You probably think this is a subtle way of asking for a jumbotron. Well, not quite, because our stadium is already getting a new video scoreboard.

We are wanting more along the lines of streamers. Ones that shoot out from our new rafters while fireworks are injected into the sky (day or night).

Possibly also a marching band. Even University of Hawaii has one of those, complete with a cheerleader who does flips atop a surfboard as she is carried on to the ground to a brass rendition of the Hawaii 5-O theme song.

We are going host possibly the biggest sporting event in Ballarat history next year – an AFL match for premiership points with the reigning premier as our home team.

This city has proven it can host big sporting events. We host a growing and booming national road cycling championships every January. We host big soccer and basketball friendlies.

But we had never had a proper outdoor stadium for major events before. We must get it right and, hopefully with your help, we should do so before Western Bulldogs arrive for game day.

This stadium has so much potential and this city needs to fully believe the stadium is about more than football – AFL and the Northern tenants.

Geelong can drop a cricket pitch into its Kardinia Park stadium. The MCG had an athletics track dug in for the Commonwealth Games (we could at least consider handicap Gift events on grass). Adelaide Oval has a roof-top climb.

We need to add our signature style because stadiums are all about showcasing events and what is awesome about the home city. 

Our stadium will be boutique and small, for now, but small can still make a massive impact. This stadium is for western Victoria and should ensure everyone feels welcome.

Elite athletes can put on a show, but this is also about a celebration and a little added showmanship – like streamers.

We need to enjoy our stadium more than just when a football game is in town. Otherwise it just sits there, collecting cobwebs.

Think concerts and fun run finish lines. Music pumping from speakers.

Curators may blanch at notions of people stomping on their beautiful blades but it can be safely done and encourage this region to get moving.

It is better to use it than lose it.

If it takes a few streamers shooting from the roof to getting people to think bigger than please Santa, roll out the crepe paper.

Yours in Christmas spirit,

Melanie

(on behalf of Ballarat).